On Wednesday, November 26, three high-rise residential buildings in Hong Kong caught fire: open flames were visible across multiple floors, and thick smoke rose into the sky, as captured in videos from the scene.
According to figures cited by the city’s public broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong, 13 people were killed, and several of the injured remain in critical condition.
The buildings were covered with bamboo scaffolding, widely used in Hong Kong for construction and renovation. Unlike metal structures common in major cities elsewhere, bamboo is highly flammable. These residential towers are located in Tai Po, on the northeastern edge of Hong Kong’s vast New Territories.